I Tested 11 Bread Boxes to Find the Best Ones for Storing Loaves of All Sorts and Shapes

Give me a baguette, focaccia, boule, or brioche. I’m not picky about the size and shape—nothing beats a fresh loaf of bread. 

The operative word here is fresh. If it’s not stored properly, it only takes a day or two for a beautiful bakery ciabatta to enter crouton territory. Keeping bread in good condition is all about controlling airflow. Out in the open, bread goes stale quickly. On the other hand, it’s vulnerable to growing anaerobic mold if it’s completely sealed off from oxygen.

Bread boxes are an aesthetically pleasing storage option designed to extend the life of loaves. They allow a small amount of airflow—just enough to lock in moisture while discouraging mold growth. I put 11 bread boxes, ranging from $15 to $200 to the test to see just how well they accomplish this task.

The Tests

• Capacity Test: I placed three types of loaves (a boule, sliced sandwich bread, and a round sourdough) in each bread box one at a time. I noted how easy it was to place and access the bread and how well the boxes could accommodate different shapes. 
• Storage Test: I placed a loaf of bagged sandwich bread in each box and left it for two weeks, periodically checking for mold. For a point of comparison, I also left one loaf on the counter. 
• Durability Test: To evaluate durability I gave each bread box a solid smack with a metal spoon, taking note of any dents or scratches. 
• Cleanup Test: After testing, I cleaned each bread box according to the manufacturer's instructions. I took note of any difficult or smudge-prone materials. 

What We Learned

Transparent Was Best

As the saying goes; out of sight, out of mind. But I like to keep my eyes on my bread. My favorite bread boxes had transparent or semi-transparent covers. A window makes it easy to tell if you’re running out of bread or if your current loaf is past its prime. The Williams Sonoma Olivewood Bread Box has a completely clear acrylic cover—you’ll always know exactly what's inside. The Buddeez Bread Buddy Bread Box, Oggi Stainless Steel Roll Top Bread Box, and ETMI Bamboo Bread Box feature semi-transparent surfaces. Although you can’t see their contents in crystal clear focus, it is still easy to tell if they are full or empty. Other models were made of opaque materials like stainless steel, aluminum, or bamboo. The Culinary Couture Extra Large Bread Box was a literal black box. Solid walls increase the chance you’ll forget what’s on hand and let a stray slice of bread grow old for weeks.  

Bigger Wasn’t Always Better 

Of the 11 bread boxes I tested, 10 were quite large and designed to sit on the countertop. The exception was the Buddeez Bread Buddy Bread Box, which could be stored on the counter, on top of the fridge, or tucked into a cabinet thanks to its lightweight design and tight closure. Counterspace is a precious resource in my kitchen, and several models took up more than their fair share of room. At 18.3 inches, the Brabantia Roll-Top Bread Box was the longest. The Yamazaki was the largest overall, measuring 17 inches long and 14 inches deep. I found that this extra space simply wasn’t necessary. Even much smaller models, like the 15- x 9-inch Williams Sonoma, could hold full-sized loaves of all shapes (the only exception is for the Buddeez, which is specifically designed for sandwich bread). A boule looked positively lonely inside of the massive Yamazaki. Unless you’re storing multiple loaves at a time, extra-large bread boxes just take up space. 

A Bread Box Should Open at the Front

There’s more than one way to open a bread box. The Brabantia, Oggi, home-it, RoyalHouse, and Williams Sonoma models feature roll-top closures that open at the front like a garage. The Yamazaki and ETMI models use pull-down doors like a mailbox does. Other models—like the Joseph Joseph, Guzzini, and Culinary Couture—boxes have lids. The smooth, handle-free Guzzini lid was difficult to set in place, while the Culinary Couture model was hinged (like a treasure chest), which made it hard to open when flat against a wall. 

I found models that opened from the front were more convenient. With a roll-top or mailbox-style door, you could store a few items on top of the box and access bread without removing them. 

Materials Made a Difference 

In terms of preventing mold, all of these boxes were effective. Although wood, plastic, and aluminum all did a good job preserving bread, aluminum or steel boxes were significantly harder to clean and less durable. The shiny steel Home-it collected smudges and fingerprints each time I used it. Thin metal boxes also proved vulnerable to denting. After a solid smack with a spoon the Culinary Couture, Brabantia, and Home-it all sustained dents. The Oggi fared better than its fellow metal models—this product is constructed from a stainless steel base and a frosted plastic cover. The cover is the most frequently touched portion, and the Oggi’s material was both smudge- and dent-resistant. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Bread Box 

Look for a transparent, durable bread box that opens from the front. Evaluate how much bread you eat and choose a model that’s just large enough to accommodate your needs. 

Our Favorite Bread Boxes

The Best Bread Box

Williams Sonoma Olivewood Breadbox

$200 at Williams Sonoma

What we liked: The Williams Sonoma bread box is absolutely beautiful—a huge bonus for any countertop item. In addition to its striking grain pattern, olivewood is naturally durable. This box will only improve with age. I loved the clear door, which opened smoothly and proudly displayed the bread inside. 

What we didn’t like: This was by far the most expensive bread box on the list—at $200, it’s a significant investment. Natural wood also requires slightly more maintenance than plastic or steel. The manufacturer suggests periodically conditioning the wood with food-safe mineral oil. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Olivewood, acrylic 
• Dimensions: 15 x 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches 
• Care instructions: Wipe clean, condition wood with mineral oil

The Best Budget Bread Box

Oggi Stainless Steel Roll Top Bread Box

$45 $35 at Amazon $60 $10 at Walmart View on Bed Bath & Beyond

What we liked: This model features an easy-to-use roll-top lid with a semi-transparent covering. The frosted plexiglass covering is translucent enough to see the bread inside. This medium-sized model is spacious and can hold a variety of bread without hogging too much counter space. 

What we didn’t like: Compared to the Williams Sonoma model, this box felt slightly thinner and flimsier. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel, plexiglass  
• Dimensions: 14.88 x 10.25 x 7.38 inches
• Care instructions: Hand-wash 

The Best Bread Box for Sandwich Lovers

Buddeez Sandwich Size Bread Buddy Dispenser

$17 $16 at Amazon $26 at Walmart View on Cabelas.com

What we liked: This box offers an extremely practical solution for storing sliced sandwich bread. The container is small, light, and seals tightly. Once it’s closed it’s easy to pick up the entire container. If you don’t have counter space, this could be stored on a shelf or on top of the fridge.  

What we didn’t like: The Buddeez bread box is specifically designed for sliced sandwich bread. It’s not large enough to store artisanal loaves. It's also not the prettiest sight to see.

Key Specs

• Materials: BPA-free plastic 
• Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 13.5 inches
• Care instructions: Hand-wash only 

The Competition

• Brabantia Roll-Top Bread Box: This is a simple breadbox with a smooth roll-top door. Unfortunately, its steel construction hides bread from view, making it easy to forget what’s in stock. 
• Yamazaki Home Bread Box: I liked this model’s smudge-resistant white stainless steel construction. This was the largest box that I tested. Unless you’re eating several loaves of bread each week, there’s no need to dedicate this much space to storage. 
• Joseph Joseph Bread Box with Removable Bamboo Cutting Board: Cheap plastic construction and opaque walls knocked this bread box out of the running. 
• Culinary Couture Extra Large Bread Box: The Culinary Couture bread box felt needlessly large. This model opens from the top—if you place any items on top of the box, you’ll need to remove them each time you open it.
• RoyalHouse Premium Bamboo Bread Box: Assembling this model was so irritating that I eventually got out a power drill.
• ETMI Bamboo Bread Box: I liked this model’s semi-transparent door, but it lost points because the design felt sloppy. After assembly, the side walls weren’t completely flush with the top of the box, leaving a useless raised border.   
• Home-it Stainless Steel Bread Box: This shiny steel bread box dented and smudged easily. 
• Guzzini Recycled Tierra Bread Box: It was difficult to lift and replace this box’s smooth, handle-free lid. 

FAQs

Does a bread box keep bread fresh?

Bread boxes control airflow to keep bread fresh. Bread can become stale or grow mold as it ages. If a loaf is left on the countertop it will be exposed to too much air and dry out quickly. If, however, it’s completely sealed off in a plastic bag anaerobic mold can thrive. Bread boxes create a mostly sealed environment that prolongs shelf life. 

Is a wooden or metal bread box better?

Wooden bread boxes may be able to regulate humidity more effectively than their metal counterparts. However, I did not observe significant storage performance differences between wood and metal boxes during testing. In general, I preferred wood over metal bread boxes because many thin steel models dented easily. 

Are bread boxes worth it?

Whether or not you need a bread box depends on how much bread you consume and how to prepare it. Bread boxes help prolong shelf life, but they also take up a considerable amount of counter space. They are a good solution for households that enjoy fresh bread several times a week. If you go through loaves slowly or generally prefer toast, the freezer may be a better choice. 

What type of bread box works best?

The most important feature of a bread box is transparency. Wood, metal, and plastic boxes can all store bread well, but if you can’t see what you have in stock, you’re more likely to forget about it. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Madeline Muzzi is a food writer and avid cook with over five years of product testing experience.
• Madeline is a carb snob, with high standards for bread texture and quality and has eaten upwards of 2,000 sandwiches in her lifetime. 
• She’s written extensively about food science, which informed her evaluation of these products. 
• For this review, Madeline tested 11 bread boxes, evaluating their capacity, ease of use, and more.